Improved hydrogen-generator and carbureter



anni stu-c BYRON storen, orjsr.l tours, MISSOURI.

.Letters Patent No. 92,892, dated my 2o, 1869.

l IlVlP-RVEDv HVDROGEN-GENERATOR AND CA-RBURETE.

The-Schedule ,referred to in these Letters Patent `and making part of the Samet- To all whom It may concern Be it known that I, BYRON SLOPER, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and. State of Missouri, did ymake certain new and useful Improvements in Aut-o.` matic Machines for Generating 'Hydrogen-Gas and Oarbureting the same, and for other and similar' purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andtrue description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters ol reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to machines used principally for forming illuminating-gas. -For said purpose .hydrogen-gas is generated and passed through gasoline or other light oil of the petroleum series, the so-carbureted mixture being burned in theusual manner.

The nature of this invention isl First, in the manner of regulating the height of the gas-holder inaccordance with the sediment and fluid accumulation thereunder V Secondly, in the arrangementofl said gas-holder to be rotated with the tray whereon the metal for generating gas is placed, so as to wash said metal and cleanse: it of,the salt formed by the action of the chemicals used; and

Said nature is, lastly, in the arrangement of a glass' or other gauge with the stationary b ut adjustable gasholder, so that bythe level of the duid in said gauge the action of the acid may be ascertained.

To enable those herein skilled to make and use my said invention, I will now more fully describe the same, referring herein to the accompanying Figure 1 as a sectional elevation; to

Figure 2as an elevation; to

Figure 3 as a sectional plan of the carbnreting device; to A Figure 4 as a general plan; and to Figure 5 as a section of the safety-burner.

All said gnres represent the devices here to be describedin one of the forms in which they are practicable.

I construct a proper vessel, A, in which hydrogengas is to be generated.

Nearthe base of said vessel is a false bottom, A1,

whereon a perforated tray, B, is placed. Said tray bears granulated zinc, iron filings, or similar metal, which, in the presence of a strong acid, will decompose water.

Over said tray and connected therewith is arranged the bell C, having perforations c nea-r its lower edge, and a vertical shaft, c. l

When this bell is in proper position the shaft c* is directly under the cross-bar A2, which lis hinged to the vessel A and otherwise secured by a hasp. The

height of the bell is regulated'by the set-'screw c2 nnder the cross-har. v

scribed. lhe fluid is therefore forced out of the bell O, and it is plain that if the gas is not drawn off thev duid will pass below the tray B and its metal, and

Y thus the generation of gas cease.

To indicate the rise of `fluid. in the vessel A a gauge, a, of glass, will be arranged on said vessel. l`f by the weakening of the acid or the complete oxidation of the metal upon the tray B the generation' of gas is suspended, the gauge a will indicate such interruption of the process and diminution of gas generation by the lowered level'of the duid.

A central pipe, D, passes the generated gas from thehGlLC.tothecarbureter E. The. latter is usually arranged under the false bottom A1, so that-the gas enters centrally and is compelled to pass circuitously y by the spiral partition c. The space between is filled with curled-hair or other distributing medium.

Gasoline or similar oil is lled into the sub-chamber through a proper inlet, and by capillary attraction the mass of hair becomes charged with said oil, so that the hydrogen-gas in passing through takes up the carbureted hydrogen vapors and hecomesa fit illuminating substance, burning at any ordinary burner when the same. is connected with said -sub-chamber.

Ther hydrogen acts, by its violent aiinit'y for oxygen, to create an intense heat in combustion, causing incandescence of the'carbon of said carbureted l1ydrogens and producing a brilliant white light.

When economy demands it atmospherieair is added to the hydrogen in the bell O by forcing the same in by a proper pump through a pipe, F. The hydrogen and air mixture is then carbureted in the manner before described, and is led from the carbureter E team burner, G.

The admixture'of air has' formed .to .an extent an l .explosive compound, and it is therefore advisable to use a burner in which the flame shall not cause ignition prematurely. Lo effect thisI have arranged the burner-pipe g, as shown in lig. 5, full of wire or similar porous metallic medium, the object thereof being to 'I chill any llame which may tend to pass, while it allows The burner-tip is placed on the gas mixture to pass.

the pipe g in the usual manuel'.

When Ythe accumulation of sulphate upon the zinc or metal resists the action of the acid the tray B will be revolved by turning the rod c and bell C, andthus theiluid in the vessel A will wash olf the salt accumn' lation and present fresh metallic surface to the-acid.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim is- 1. The arrangement of the gas-holder so as to be adj usted in accordance with the accumulation of salt and sediment thereunder, substantially as-set forth.

2. The arrangement of the gas-holder tohe rotated `with its tray, and thus wash the metal on the latter,

substantially as set forth, i y

3. The gauge a arranged on the vesselA, acting with the Huid and stationary gas-holder to indicate he acid action in generating gas, substantially as set orth..

`4. The vessel A, gauge; a, adjustable holder O, connected tray B, carbureter E, pipe F, service-pipe G, and its safety stuiug, when combined and arranged' substantially as set forth.4

In testimouymhereof I have hereunto 'set my hand in the presence of A BYRON SLOPER.

Witnesses:

GEO. I. Hamann, Jr., WILLIAM W. HERTHEL. 

